Patients with missing teeth can find affordable and convenient tooth replacement treatment with dentures. These prosthetic teeth feature an acrylic or plastic base. Partial dentures use a metal framework that uses support from your remaining teeth to secure into place.
Removable dentures can offer restorative benefits for five years with proper care and maintenance. Dr. Emily Ann Reece, a dentist in Cary, NC, offers tips for keeping your dentures and the rest of your mouth clean and healthy.
Rinse Dentures Often
After tooth loss, dental patients can struggle with eating or speaking normally. Tooth replacement treatment with dentures can restore these oral functions, with noticeable improvement to chewing and biting.
You can eat while wearing dentures, but to keep them clean, you should rinse them afterward to remove lingering food particles. Make sure you do not use hot water with dentures because the high temperature can warp the fixtures.
Soak When Not Worn
You can wear dentures for a majority of your day for maximum restorative benefits. But sometimes, you remove these fixtures to give your gums and remaining natural teeth a rest from supporting dentures. When not in use, such as while you sleep, dentures should be soaked in water or a cleaning solution.
Dentures can lose their shape if they dry out, leading them to no longer fit properly in your mouth. Your dental professional may have suggestions for optimal soaking solutions for your specific brand of dentures.
Keep Mouth Clean
Dentures require separate hygienic care beyond your usual regimen. You should brush your dentures with a specified cleanser whenever you complete your oral hygiene routine.
However, you should also ensure the rest of your mouth is clean and healthy in order to support this oral appliance. You should floss daily and brush your remaining teeth twice a day.
Your dentist may recommend rinsing with mouthwash to balance bacteria in your mouth and boost periodontal health. Regular dental cleanings are crucial to your oral hygiene as well, so you should visit your dentist at least every six months.
Dentures and Other Teeth Replacements in Cary, NC
Reedy Creek Family and Cosmetic Dentistry offers dentures and other teeth replacement solutions to patients in Cary, NC. Dr. Reece also specializes in restorative, cosmetic, and general dentistry for patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment with our practice, contact us online or reach our office by phone at 919.646.6294.